Sunday Morning Reflections: Passion for Photography vs. Passion for the Industry

It's not my usual scenario for Sunday Morning Reflections. Normally I like going off track while enjoying the solitude of our house in the early hours. However, this morning I'm at Dragon Con, and while it's quiet right now, it won't be for long. 

The last two days of the convention got me thinking about our industry. Every year for the last 27 years, gaming, fantasy and sci-fi enthusiasts have gotten together for a series of workshops, presentations, panel discussions, a parade and a trade show. It's spread out over at least five hotels in downtown Atlanta, and my guess is they broke 70,000 attendees this year. 

This is only a short post with a very simple concept. We're all passionate about the craft, but only a percentage of you participate in the industry. I can't imagine our industry ever gaining the popularity of a Dragon Con, but I can envision a convention where everybody gets involved.  Where people come to share with each other and learn about everything new technology is bringing to the party, and where a community supports each other all year long.

This isn't meant to be an infomercial for ShutterFest, but right now it's the closest to starting what Dragon Con must have looked like 27 years ago. Here's my point: Even ShutterFest needs the full support of the community to survive and more importantly grow.

I've said this before, but it fits so well this morning...

You can choose to be in the parade and be involved, or sit on the sidelines and just watch it all go by. Photography is an amazing career field and even more incredible as an art form. It deserves everything we can do to help it keep growing - but that means you have to put the same passion into the industry as you do each click of the shutter.

The crowds start lining up for the parade three hours early on Peachtree!

Every hotel has a jam-packed lobby of enthusiasts with a good percentage in full costume. These aren't just ordinary costumes but visions people have often spent a year making themselves.